Do any whales have dorsal fins?
Orca Whales: The orcas have a very tall, distinctive dorsal fin. Minke Whales, Fin Whales & Blue Whales: All three whales share a curved dorsal fin upon their broad backs. Pacific White-Sided Dolphins: The pacific white-sided dolphins have curved and bi-colored dorsal fins.
Do baleen whales have flippers?
Baleen whales can have streamlined or large bodies, depending on the feeding behavior, and two limbs that are modified into flippers.
What do baleen whales lack that other whales have?
The key difference between them is the way they feed and what they have inside their mouth. Baleen whales have baleen plates, or sheets, which sieve prey from seawater. Toothed whales have teeth and they actively hunt fish, squid and other sea creatures.
Do whales have dorsal?
The dorsal fin of a male killer whale is proportionately larger than that of a female. In adult males, the dorsal fin is tall and triangular. Reaching a height of up to 1.8 m (6 ft.) in a large adult male, it is the tallest dorsal fin of all cetaceans.
Why don t all whales have dorsal fins?
The dorsal fin has different functions in different whale species. In some whales (e.g. right whales and narwhals), the dorsal fin has disappeared altogether. In other species (e.g. blue and sperm whales), this fin is so small that it no longer really serves any purpose.
What is a whale flipper called?
The whales performed pectoral herding both when they were moving vertically and horizontally. Humpback whales have long flippers, called pectorals, which increase their manoeuvrability by helping them navigate in shallow water and accelerate rapidly.
Which whale has a small dorsal fin?
Humpback whales are mid-sized baleen whales that frequent our area in the summer months. They get their name “Humpback” from a small hump on their back located just in front of their small dorsal fin. These whales have a black body with white flippers (pectoral fins).
What is a group of whales called?
A group of whales is commonly referred to as a pod.
Do whales have fingernails?
The eyes are also suited to see in low-light conditions. Baleen whales don't have teeth, instead they have 130 to 180 baleen plates that hang down each side of their upper jaws, like a fringy curtain. The plates are made out of fingernail-like material called keratin. It makes the baleen strong, but still flexible.
Do Sperm whales have dorsal fins?
The sperm whale is the largest toothed whale. It is very distinctive for its large blunt, 'box-like' head. It has no distinct dorsal fin, but does have a small hump two thirds of the way along its back.
Do humpback whales have a dorsal fin?
Humpbacks have small, knobby-shared dorsal fins, and broad, lobed tail flukes with unique white patterns on the undersides. Humpback pectoral fins can be up to 8 feet long.
What whale has a top fin?
Whale dorsal fin shapes?WhalesDorsal fin shapeKiller whaleTall and angularMinke whaleCurved, far back on the top side of the bodyHumpback whaleSmall, broad-based nubby finSei whaleErect and slender7 more rows
What is baleen in a whale?
Baleen is a filter-feeding system inside the mouths of baleen whales. To use baleen, the whale first opens its mouth underwater to take in water. The whale then pushes the water out, and animals such as krill are filtered by the baleen and remain as a food source for the whale.
Do baleen whales have teeth?
All baleen whales have baleen instead of teeth which they use to collect shrimp-like krill, plankton and small fish from the sea.
Can a blue whale swallow a human?
Even if they tried to swallow a human whole, they wouldn't be able to fit a person down their throat. Blue whales won't even attempt to eat small marine mammals, let alone a human. There are no known recorded events of a blue whale ever eating or consuming a person partially or wholly except in stories and mythology.
Which whale has baleen instead of teeth?
Toothed whales are obviously named for their presence of teeth. Baleen whales, however, have what are referred to as baleen plates in their gums along each whale's upper jaw.
How thick is the skin of a baleen whale?
The epidermis, the pigmented layer, is 5 millimeters (0.2 in) thick, along with connective tissue. The epidermis itself is only 1 millimeter (0.04 in) thick.
What is the only living member of Cetotheriidae?
Cetotheriidae consists of only one living member: the pygmy right whale ( Caperea marginata ). The first descriptions date back to the 1840s of bones and baleen plates resembling a smaller version of the right whale, and was named Balaena marginata.
How many blowholes do baleen whales have?
Their nostrils, or blowholes, are situated at the top of the cranium. Baleen whales have two blowholes, as opposed to toothed whales which have one. These paired blowholes are longitudinal slits that converge anteriorly and widen posteriorly, which causes a V-shaped blow. They are surrounded by a fleshy ridge that keeps water away while the whale breathes. The septum that separates the blowholes has two plugs attached to it, making the blowholes water-tight while the whale dives.
What is the order of cetaceans?
Cetaceans ( whales, dolphins, and porpoises) and artiodactyls are now classified under the order Cetartiodactyla, often still referred to as Artiodactyla (given that the cetaceans are deeply nested with the artiodactyls). The closest living relatives to baleen whales are toothed whales both from the infraorder Cetacea.
How do baleen whales move?
Flipper movement is continuous. While doing this, baleen whales use their tail fluke to propel themselves forward through vertical motion while using their flippers for steering, much like an otter. Some species leap out of the water, which may allow them to travel faster. Because of their great size, right whales are not flexible or agile like dolphins, and none can move their neck because of the fused cervical vertebrae; this sacrifices speed for stability in the water. The hind legs are enclosed inside the body, and are thought to be vestigial organs. However, a 2014 study suggests that the pelvic bone serves as support for whale genitalia.
What is the fastest whale in the world?
The fin whale is the fastest baleen whale, recorded swimming at 10 m/s (36 km/h; 22 mph). Baleen whales use their baleen plates to filter out food from the water by either lunge-feeding or skim-feeding. Baleen whales have fused neck vertebrae, and are unable to turn their heads at all. Baleen whales have two blowholes.
Why are baleen whales so hard to study?
Unlike their toothed whale counterparts, baleen whales are hard to study because of their immense size. Intelligence tests such as the mirror test cannot be done because their bulk and lack of body language makes a reaction impossible to be definitive. However, studies on the brains of humpback whales revealed spindle cells, which, in humans, control theory of mind. Because of this, it is thought that baleen whales, or at least humpback whales, have consciousness.
How many openings does a baleen whale have?
Baleen whales have two openings in the blowhole, while odontoceti have just one. Baleens move more slowly. They generally have a smaller dorsal fin (if they have one at all). The mustachioed whales are larger than the toothed whales. But the really important difference comes down to how and what they eat.
Why are bowhead whales called right whales?
Bowhead whale aside, this group is often just referred to as the right whales. They get this name because they were the "right" whale to hunt for , due to their abundant oil and blubber [ Carwardine et al. ]. Family Neobalaenidae, which is the pygmy right whale.
How many ridges does a Bryde's whale have?
Bryde's whales have three ridges on their head, while other whales have just one. Baleen whales are some of the largest animals in the world, with one exception being the pygmy right whale, which typically grows no longer than 20 feet (6 meters).
What are the two groups of whales?
Whales are divided into two groups: the odontoceti, which have teeth, and the mysticeti, or baleen whales. In Greek, mysteceti means "mustachioed whale," while, as you might guess, odontoceti means "whale with teeth.". There are a few other differences between the baleen whales and the toothed whales:
What family is the whale in?
Family Eschrichtiidae, which is just the gray whale. Family Balaenopoteridae, which includes the humpback, blue, fin, sei, Bryde's and minke whales. These whales are also known as rorqual whales. Family Balaenidae, which includes the bowhead, the northern right and the southern right whales.
What family is a pygmy right whale in?
Family Neobalaenidae, which is the pygmy right whale. Not much is known about the pygmy right whale, and it is sometimes included in the family Balaenidae with the other right whales. However, it has a dorsal fin whereas other right whales do not.
Where do baleen whales migrate?
They migrate to warmer waters for the winter, where it takes less energy, and thus less food, to live. Baleen whales make some of the longest migratory trips of any mammal, with the humpback whale edging out the gray whale for the record. The gray whale travels 5,000 miles (8,047 kilometers) from the Bering Sea to Baja California, Mexico, in about five months [source: Ellis ]. The humpback whale has been tracked from the Antarctic Peninsula to Columbia, a voyage of 5,176 miles (8,330 kilometers) [source: Carwardine et al. ].
How many species of baleen whales are there?
There are more than a dozen species of baleen whales ranging from 20 to 102 feet long.
How big are baleen whales?
Baleen whales can range from 20 feet to 102 feet long, and they can grow to 210 short tons (which is heavier than a house). Their body has a thick layer of fat called blubber. This blubber is necessary to maintaining their warmth while in the water since they are warm-blooded. Blubber is common among whales with teeth as well.
What is the scientific name for a baleen whale?
The baleen whale, which is also known as a whalebone whale or mysticetes, is primarily known as the scientific name “Mysticeti.” The subspecies are broken down into three extant families, which include the:
What are baleen whales' teeth called?
The teeth are called baleen, and they grow in rows. They may be white, black, or any color in between, which is determined by the species. These “teeth” are smooth on the outer edge, but the frayed inner edge creates the mat needed to catch food. They allow the whale to trap food and filter out the water. Baleen is not the same as having a set of teeth, even though they develop teeth buds while growing within the mother.
How far do gray whales travel?
They migrate every year, though the gray whale travels the furthest – 14,000 miles! Researchers believe that the whales primarily venture to wherever plankton is, reserving the tropical areas for calving grounds.
Where do baleen whales live?
The baleen whale is found around the world, and their blubber makes it possible for them to live in tropical zones as easily as they live in polar regions. Some species, like the southern right whales, are only found in the southern hemisphere. Bowhead whales prefer to stay around the Arctic region.
What color are whales?
Though there are more than a dozen different species to speak of, the majority of these whales are either black or grey, though variations like the blue whale have more of blue-grey skin color. Often, this mammal family features countershading, which gives the top of the whale a darker shade from the top to keep them concealed, though their belly is often lighter. Each breed is a little different, as some feature black fins while others have asymmetrical markings. They may also be impacted by parasites, barnacles, and algae.
What are the white patches on the right whale's head called?
Right whales have hard white patches called callosities on their head, chin, and jaw. The unique pattern and coloration of these callosities help researchers to identify individuals.
How to identify fin whales?
Individual fin whales, also called finback whales, can be identified by the unique asymmetrical pattern of lighter colored chevrons and streaks on their back. The size and shape of the dorsal fin can also be used to distinguish between individuals.
What color are blue whales?
While blue whales are generally bluish-grey in color, unique mottling patterns on both sides of the body near the dorsal fins can help distinguish between individuals.
Do gray whales have dorsal fins?
Gray whales don’t actually have a dorsal fin; instead they have a series of “knuckles” along their back. Researchers can use the shape of these knuckles, as well as mottling, scarring, and barnacle patterns on the whale’s back to identify individuals.
Overview
Baleen whales (systematic name Mysticeti), also known as whalebone whales, are a parvorder of carnivorous marine mammals of the infraorder Cetacea (whales, dolphins and porpoises) which use keratinaceous baleen plates (or "whalebone") in their mouths to sieve planktonic creatures from the water. Mysticeti comprises the families Balaenidae (right and bowhead whales), Balaenopteridae (rorquals an…
Taxonomy
Baleen whales are cetaceans classified under the parvorder Mysticeti, and consist of three extant families: Balaenidae (right whales), Balaenopteridae (rorquals and the gray whale), and Cetotheriidae (pygmy right whale). Balaenids are distinguished by their enlarged head and thick blubber, while rorquals and gray whales generally have a flat head, long throat pleats, and are more streamline…
Anatomy
When swimming, baleen whales rely on their flippers for locomotion in a wing-like manner similar to penguins and sea turtles. Flipper movement is continuous. While doing this, baleen whales use their tail fluke to propel themselves forward through vertical motion while using their flippers for steering, much like an otter. Some species leap out of the water, which may allow them to travel faster. Bec…
Behavior
Most species of baleen whale migrate long distances from high latitude waters during spring and summer months to more tropical waters during winter months. This migration cycle is repeated annually. The gray whale has the longest recorded migration of any mammal, with one traveling 23,000 kilometers (14,000 mi) from the Sea of Okhotsk to the Baja Peninsula.
Relationship with humans
Whaling by humans has existed since the Stone Age. Ancient whalers used harpoons to spear the bigger animals from boats out at sea. People from Norway started hunting whales around 4,000 years ago, and people from Japan began hunting whales in the Pacific at least as early as that. Whales are typically hunted for their meat and blubber by aboriginal groups; they used baleen for ba…
External links
• Media related to Mysticeti at Wikimedia Commons
• Data related to Mysticeti at Wikispecies